Sunday, July 18, 2010

Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival

Looking for something cool to do this week? Why not attend a film festival? This is the inaugural year of the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, which will be held July 21-25 at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center in Palatine (150 E. Wood St.). Feature films, shorts, and music videos will be screened during the festival. Music video screenings and a live concert by Mount Prospect musician Chris Petlak kicks off the festival on Wednesday night at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater (262 E. Palatine Rd., Palatine). The film screenings begin on Thursday night, and after-parties will be held at Emmett's (110 N. Brockway St., Palatine). Here are a few films included in the festival schedule that I think sound intriguing:

Driver's Ed Mutiny, directed by Schaumburg's Brad Hansen, which Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire calls "delightful" and "a surprisingly touching comedy/drama." Partially filmed in the Northwest suburbs, this John Hughes-ian film won first place in the Pro-Am category at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival in Marion, Iowa, back in April (see Daily Herald article here).

Educating Cooper, about a Chicago high school student, directed by Bryan Litt and filmed at several high schools in Chicago.

The Exploding Girl, directed by Bradley Rust Gray, which has its Illinois premiere at the festival.

That's just a small sample of what's screening at the festival. Visit the Blue Whiskey Film Festival website to view the complete festival schedule and buy festival passes.